Patentable/Patents/US-8463599
US-8463599

Bandwidth extension method and apparatus for a modified discrete cosine transform audio coder

PublishedJune 11, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A method includes defining a transition band for a signal having a spectrum within a first frequency band, where the transition band is defined as a portion of the first frequency band, and is located near an adjacent frequency band that is adjacent to the first frequency band. The method analyzes the transition band to obtain a transition band spectral envelope and a transition band excitation spectrum; estimates an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope; generates an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum by periodic repetition of at least a part of the transition band excitation spectrum with a repetition period determined by a pitch frequency of the signal; and combines the adjacent frequency band spectral envelope and the adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum to obtain an adjacent frequency band signal spectrum. A signal processing logic for performing the method is also disclosed.

Patent Claims
19 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method comprising: defining a transition band for a signal having a spectrum within a first frequency band, said transition band defined as a portion of said first frequency band, said transition band being located near an adjacent frequency band that is adjacent to said first frequency band; analyzing said transition band to obtain transition band spectral data; analyzing said transition band spectral data to obtain a transition band spectral envelope and a transition band excitation spectrum; and generating an adjacent frequency band signal spectrum using said transition band spectral data comprising: estimating an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope; generating an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum, using said transition band spectral data; and combining said adjacent band spectral envelope and said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum to generate said adjacent frequency band signal spectrum.

Plain English Translation

A method for extending the bandwidth of an audio signal involves first defining a "transition band." This is a section of the original audio signal's frequency spectrum, located right next to the frequency range that needs to be extended (the "adjacent band"). The method then analyzes this transition band to determine its spectral envelope (the overall shape of its frequency components) and its excitation spectrum (the fine details of the frequencies present). Finally, it estimates what the spectral envelope of the adjacent band should be, generates an excitation spectrum for the adjacent band using information from the transition band, and combines these two to create the extended bandwidth signal.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum, using said transition band spectral data, further comprises: generating said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a repetition period determined by a pitch frequency of said signal.

Plain English Translation

Building upon the bandwidth extension method, the process of creating the excitation spectrum for the adjacent frequency band involves taking a portion of the transition band's excitation spectrum and repeating it periodically. The repetition rate is determined by the pitch frequency of the original audio signal. So, if the audio has a high pitch, the transition band excitation spectrum will be repeated more frequently in the adjacent band, and vice versa.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein generating said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum, further comprises: mixing said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum generated by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a pseudo-noise excitation spectrum within said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

In addition to generating the adjacent frequency band's excitation spectrum by repeating parts of the transition band's excitation spectrum, a pseudo-random noise signal is also introduced into the adjacent band's excitation spectrum. These two signals (the repeated transition band spectrum and the noise) are mixed together. This mixing process can help to add more natural-sounding characteristics to the extended bandwidth signal.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: determining a mixing ratio, for mixing said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum and said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum, using a voicing level estimated from said signal.

Plain English Translation

To improve the mixing of the repeated transition band excitation spectrum and the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum, the method determines a "mixing ratio." This ratio determines how much of each spectrum is used. The mixing ratio is based on a "voicing level" estimated from the original audio signal. Highly voiced signals (clear, tonal sounds) might use more of the repeated transition band excitation, while unvoiced signals (noise-like sounds) might use more pseudo-noise.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: filling any holes in said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum due to corresponding holes in said transition band excitation spectrum using said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum.

Plain English Translation

As an improvement to the bandwidth extension method, if there are gaps ("holes") in the transition band's excitation spectrum, these gaps would normally be copied over when creating the adjacent band's excitation spectrum. To fix this, the method uses the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum to fill in those holes. This results in a more complete and natural-sounding extended bandwidth signal.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope, further comprises: estimating said signal's energy in said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

In the bandwidth extension method, when estimating the spectral envelope of the adjacent frequency band, the method estimates the overall energy level of the signal within that adjacent frequency band. This provides a basic measurement of signal strength in the frequency band to be generated.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: combining said spectrum within said first frequency band and said adjacent frequency band signal spectrum to obtain a bandwidth extended signal spectrum and a corresponding bandwidth extended signal.

Plain English Translation

After the adjacent frequency band signal spectrum is generated, the method combines the newly generated adjacent band signal spectrum with the original signal's spectrum (the spectrum within the first frequency band). This combination results in a complete, bandwidth-extended signal spectrum, and correspondingly, a bandwidth-extended audio signal that sounds richer and fuller.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. A method comprising: defining a transition band for a signal having a spectrum within a first frequency band, said transition band defined as a portion of said first frequency band, said transition band being located near an adjacent frequency band that is adjacent to said first frequency band; analyzing said transition band to obtain a transition band spectral envelope and a transition band excitation spectrum; estimating an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope; generating an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a repetition period determined by a pitch frequency of said signal; and combining said adjacent frequency band spectral envelope and said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum to obtain an adjacent frequency band signal spectrum.

Plain English Translation

A method for extending the bandwidth of an audio signal involves defining a "transition band," a section of the original audio's spectrum near the frequency range to be extended (the "adjacent band"). The method analyzes the transition band to determine its spectral envelope and excitation spectrum. It estimates the adjacent band's spectral envelope. It generates the adjacent band's excitation spectrum by periodically repeating parts of the transition band's excitation spectrum, with the repetition rate based on the signal's pitch. Finally, it combines the adjacent band's spectral envelope and excitation spectrum to create the extended bandwidth signal.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein estimating an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope, further comprises: estimating said signal's energy in said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

In the bandwidth extension method, when estimating the spectral envelope of the adjacent frequency band, the method estimates the overall energy level of the signal within that adjacent frequency band. This provides a basic measurement of signal strength in the frequency band to be generated.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: combining said spectrum within said first frequency band and said adjacent frequency band signal spectrum to obtain a bandwidth extended signal spectrum and a corresponding bandwidth extended signal.

Plain English Translation

After generating the adjacent frequency band signal spectrum, the method combines it with the original signal's spectrum. This results in a complete, bandwidth-extended signal spectrum, and correspondingly, a bandwidth-extended audio signal that sounds richer. This builds upon the method of estimating the signal's energy in the adjacent frequency band during the adjacent band spectral envelope estimation.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein generating said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum, further comprises: mixing said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum generated by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a pseudo-noise excitation spectrum within said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

In addition to generating the adjacent frequency band’s excitation spectrum by repeating parts of the transition band’s excitation spectrum, a pseudo-random noise signal is also introduced into the adjacent band’s excitation spectrum, and these two signals (the repeated transition band spectrum and the noise) are mixed together to add more natural-sounding characteristics to the extended bandwidth signal. This extends the bandwidth extension method by estimating the signal's energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: determining a mixing ratio, for mixing said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum and said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum, using a voicing level estimated from said signal.

Plain English Translation

To improve the mixing of the repeated transition band excitation spectrum and the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum, the method determines a mixing ratio based on a voicing level estimated from the original audio signal. Highly voiced signals might use more of the repeated transition band excitation, while unvoiced signals might use more pseudo-noise. This extends the bandwidth extension method by estimating the signal's energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising: filling any holes in said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum due to corresponding holes in said transition band excitation spectrum using said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum.

Plain English Translation

If there are gaps in the transition band's excitation spectrum, the method uses the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum to fill in those holes in the adjacent band's excitation spectrum. This results in a more complete and natural-sounding extended bandwidth signal. This extends the bandwidth extension method by estimating the signal's energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. A device comprising: an input where a signal is provided; a processor coupled to the input wherein the processor is configured to: define a transition band for the signal having a spectrum within a first frequency band, said transition band defined as a portion of said first frequency band, said transition band being located near an adjacent frequency band that is adjacent to said first frequency band; analyze said transition band to obtain a transition band spectral envelope and a transition band excitation spectrum; estimate an adjacent frequency band spectral envelope; generate an adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a repetition period determined by a pitch frequency of said signal; and combine said adjacent frequency band spectral envelope and said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum to obtain an adjacent frequency band signal spectrum.

Plain English Translation

A device for extending audio bandwidth has an input for receiving an audio signal and a processor. The processor defines a "transition band" (part of the original signal's spectrum near the target extension). It analyzes the transition band to find its spectral envelope and excitation spectrum. It estimates the spectral envelope of the "adjacent band" (the frequencies to extend to). The processor generates an excitation spectrum for the adjacent band by repeating parts of the transition band's excitation spectrum, with the repetition rate tied to the signal's pitch. Finally, it combines the estimated adjacent band spectral envelope and the generated excitation spectrum to create the extended signal.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein said processor is further configured to: estimate said signal's energy in said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

The bandwidth extension device's processor also estimates the energy level of the audio signal within the adjacent frequency band. This estimation is used when estimating the spectral envelope of the adjacent band.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The device of claim 15 , wherein said processor is further configured to: combine said spectrum within said first frequency band and said adjacent frequency band signal spectrum to obtain a bandwidth extended signal spectrum and a corresponding bandwidth extended signal.

Plain English Translation

The bandwidth extension device's processor also combines the original signal's spectrum with the newly created adjacent band spectrum. This combination creates a complete, bandwidth-extended audio signal that sounds richer. This builds upon the device's capability to estimate signal energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The device of claim 15 , wherein said processor is further configured to: mix said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum generated by periodic repetition of at least a part of said transition band excitation spectrum with a pseudo-noise excitation spectrum within said adjacent frequency band.

Plain English Translation

The bandwidth extension device's processor mixes the repeated transition band excitation spectrum with a pseudo-noise excitation spectrum when generating the excitation spectrum for the adjacent band. This mixing adds more natural-sounding characteristics to the extended bandwidth signal and builds upon the device's capability to estimate signal energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein processor is further configured to: determine a mixing ratio, for mixing said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum and said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum, using a voicing level estimated from said signal.

Plain English Translation

The bandwidth extension device's processor also determines a mixing ratio for combining the repeated transition band excitation spectrum and the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum. This mixing ratio is based on the audio signal's voicing level. This mixing helps in generating excitation spectrum and builds upon the device's capability to estimate signal energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The device of claim 18 , wherein said processor is further configured to: fill any holes in said adjacent frequency band excitation spectrum due to corresponding holes in said transition band excitation spectrum using said pseudo-noise excitation spectrum.

Plain English Translation

The bandwidth extension device's processor fills holes in the adjacent band's excitation spectrum (caused by holes in the transition band's spectrum) using the pseudo-noise excitation spectrum. This step results in a more complete and natural-sounding extended signal. This builds upon the device's capability to estimate signal energy in the adjacent frequency band.

Classification Codes (CPC)

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Patent Metadata

Filing Date

February 4, 2009

Publication Date

June 11, 2013

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Bandwidth extension method and apparatus for a modified discrete cosine transform audio coder